More Street Vendors: KUE PUTU & KLEPON

Jakarta Travel Blog

Everybody will notice easily if a vendor of KUE PUTU comes. It is because he has a special whistle that toots along the way. Usually, the vendor bear two cabinets using yoke. But, today I met one who rode a bicycle.

KUE PUTU is a traditional cake made of rice flour with palm sugar filler. The taste is plain outside but sweet inside. Added with steamed grated coconut makes the taste richer. The color is green and the shape is like a cylinder. The green is from a special leaf called “suji” leaf.

The vendor has prepared all the ingredients and kept inside one of the cabinets. When there is an order, he makes the cakes on the spot. He puts one spoonful of the green dough into the mold. The mold is made of bamboo. That’s where the shape comes from.

The whistle and 2 cakes being steamed

Then, he adds one spoonful of grated palm sugar and covers it again with the green dough. He puts the mold onto a tin can. The tin can is functioned as a steamer. Under the can, there is a stove used to boil the water inside the can. The stove and the can are put in another cabinet.

There are 3 holes on the tin can surface. Two holes are used to steam the cake. One is used to blow the whistle. The steam blows the whistle. That’s where the toot comes from.

The price is Rp500,00 per piece. But, it can be sure that you will not eat only one ot two.

KLEPON

Besides selling KUE PUTU, the vendor also sells KLEPON.

Kue Putu and Klepon

But, the KLEPON is already made. KLEPON is also a traditional cake made of glutinous rice flour with palm sugar filler and covered by steamed grated coconut. The color is also green and the shape is like a ball. The green is also from the suji leaf.

The method to make KLEPON is different with KUE PUTU. First, take one spoonfull of the green dough and press it. Add the grated palm sugar, wrap and shape it like a ball. Put the ball inside boiling water. If it is floating, means it is done. Take it from the water and roll it onto the steamed grated coconut. Voila, ready to eat!

The price is the same with KUE PUTU. But, you have to be careful. Sometimes, the cake sticks to your teeth when you chew it. You also have to watch out when you bite it. The palm sugar which has melted can spurt to your face or stain your cloth. The way to clean it is easy. Just lick it with your tongue! :D